Maidstone pedophile who ‘discovered his sexuality’ was spared prison for child abuse

A pedophile who was said to have “discovered his sexuality” by molesting a child has been spared prison.

Harvey Doughty was just 18 when he sent the vulnerable teenager a series of explicit messages that led to him committing a sexual act.

The unidentified victim later told police she felt she had no choice but to give in to the teen’s pressure and felt “disgusting”.

He also told Maidstone Crown Court that Doughty became “forceful” and ignored his pleas to stop.

However, at Doughty’s trial, Doughty was acquitted, despite the prosecution claiming that the boy had “taken advantage” (he was said to have “submitted rather than consented” to the sexual act before clearly expressing his objection while it was being performed). oral rape by jury.

However, before his trial, he pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in sexual activity in relation to the same incident.

At the sentencing hearing on Thursday, October 31, the court heard how the now 21-year-old’s depraved behavior affected his victim.

An impact statement written by the boy’s mother said the boy was doing poorly at school, was “anxious and scared” about seeing his abuser again, and suffered an emotional breakdown, resulting in him disappearing from home and having to be reported. I applied to the police as a missing person.

He added that his anxiety was “uncontrollable” with incidents of self-harm.

But Doughty’s lawyer, Simeon Wallis, who faces a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, argued that “great importance” could be given to rehabilitation when balanced with public protection and punishment in sentencing.

‘As an 18-year-old young man, he made a serious mistake while exploring his sexuality, a constant mistake…’

He also told the court that Doughty lacked “sexual engagement” and was “suffering” from a range of difficulties, including a low IQ.

“He knows what he did was wrong, it was harmful, and he deeply regrets it. He is ashamed of what happened, he is sorry and he hopes that over time and with the completion of these proceedings the burden (on his victim) will increase. “He is starting to relax,” Mr Wallis told the court.

“The court may consider that he was 18 years old, inexperienced, confused and acted recklessly.”

The lawyer also explained that in the three years since, Doughty has “receded in terms of his own identity” and has had to do a lot of work not to “deny himself.”

But Mr Wallis added that it showed “real insight” into his disturbing behaviour.

“This is the most shameful, disgraceful and damaging thing he has ever done,” he said. “He made a serious mistake, a continuing mistake, in exploring his sexuality as an 18-year-old.”

At trial, prosecutor Martin Yale told jurors that in early 2022, Doughty and the teenage boy exchanged a series of messages.

Doughty initially asked if he could tell her “a secret” before revealing that he thought he was bisexual.

The messages quickly became clear, with Doughty explaining to the teens what he would do and suggesting they have sex.

Mr Yale said the victim initially questioned the seriousness of what he was told and repeatedly told Doughty how old he was.

But the prosecutor added that Doughty replied, “Nobody needs to know” and continued to “reassure” the boy when he asked what would happen if someone found out.

Other messages allegedly led to the victim “surrendering”, it was alleged at the hearing.

In a videotaped interview with police played in court, the boy described how he initially took Doughty’s messages about wanting sex “quite lightly” and thought the comment that “age is just a number” was just a joke.

But she gave Doughty “various excuses”, saying she felt she had “no choice” but to perform the sex act.

The boy also claimed that when he asked Doughty to stop he was brutally told “it wasn’t that bad and to deal with it”.

She was said to have been “extremely upset” when she told family and friends she thought she had been raped, and later described the encounter to police as “disgusting”.

Doughty, of Knott Court, Maidstone, was arrested and gave a ‘No comment’ interview.

Although he was later acquitted of a more serious rape charge, Mr Yale told the court there was “no doubt” that Doughty “encouraged this and took part in it” because he had pleaded guilty to two sexual activity offences. .

Doughty was released on bail until his sentencing hearing, which was postponed due to probation and psychological reports.

At the end of the trial, the judge, Recorder Matthew McDonagh, told Doughty that despite the jury’s not guilty verdict, he “must understand” the seriousness of the charges to which he pleaded guilty and that “serious penalties” could be imposed.

But Doughty, who later adjourned Thursday’s sentencing hearing overnight to consider the appropriate sentence, returned to court on Friday, November 1, and was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He must also attend an accredited sex offender program run by the probation service, as well as 30 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions and sign the sex offender registry.